Improvement in sealing preserve-cans



NICHOLSON & SPRATT.

ing.

Hermetic Seal Patented Jan. 3, 1854.

N. PFAERS. Fholu-Lnhcgraphar. Washillgioll. n. a"

UNrTEn STATES.

PATENT Grains;

HENRY C. NICHOLSON AND JAMES SPRATT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEALING PRESERVE-CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent'No. 10,396, dated JanuaryI, 1854/ T0 at whom, it may concern..-

Be it known that we, HENRY G. NIoHoLsoN and J .iivrns SPRATT, both ofCincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented anew and Improved Method of Hermetically Sealing Preserve-Cans; and we dohereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part ofthis specification, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical section throughthe apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 represent different forms of disks, 82c.

WVe will premise with the remark that the extensive and increasingbusiness of putting up provisions in sealed cans or vessels from whichthe air has been exhausted has given birth to many ingenious devices forclosing or sealing the vessel without admitting any return of airthereto. The comparative complexity of structure and nicety ofmanipulation involved in these contrivances would seem to indicate thatthe very simple and entirely efficient plan here proposed has .not beenthought of. applying to the aperture a a small disk, I), of gum-elasticor other pliant and air-tight substance,which ,bein g temporarily helddown at one part, acts, on the application of an airpump, 0, or otherexhauster, as a valve, and permits the extraction of air, but preventsits return to the vessel. The disk is helddown to its place by a wire,h, stretched across the lower end ,of the pump or exhaust-tube. On theremoval of the pump the disk remains adhering to the edges of theaperture by the force of atmospheric pressure, and the can may then behandled with impunity,and may even remain some time without the finalprocess of soldering. We then take a disk,e,of tin, somewhat hollowed onone side to allow room beneath it for the gum-elastic, and placing itupon the top of the can, so as to cover both the aperture and the diskof gum-e1astic: We solder the edges of said disk in the coinmon way, andthe operation is completed. Thus is avoided all arrangements forsoldering in vacuum and the attendant expenses and difficultiesofmanipulation and loss of'time.

This invention has more particular reference to the sealing of fresh oruncooked provisions-a more delicate and valuable art' than where theevolution of steam is dependaround the outside of the joint.

Our method consists, simply, in

ed upon for the expulsion of the atmospheric contents.

f is a gasket of gum-elastic, to make atight joint between the foot ofthe pump and the top of the can. Where the exhaust is effected byvacuum-chamber, the muzzle of the flexible tube through which theexhaust is made may have a wire stop, as described, for the pump.

coming indurated, makes without further care or-trouble afast andpermanent joint between the valve and the can, and if adroitlyperformed, and with proper material, no further sealing is necessary;but for further security a coating of the'same cement may be laid Thedisk of tin g,which closes the aperture through which the provisions areinserted, may of itself be made to serve the purposes of a valve and.

stopper, and thus, by superseding altogether the exhaust-aperture, oncesoldering or sealing may serve for all. To effect this object we providea ring or annular gasket, 2', of gumela-stic, which being prepared, aswell as the disk, by the quantity, a child having a supply of cement athand can prepare several hundred in the course of a day by sticking therings to the under sides of the disks just inside their margin. The footof the pump being formed large enough to inclose this disk, it canevidently be made to serve all the purposes'claimed above for thesmaller valve. This feature is shown in Fig. 2. This valve 1) may bemade applicable to the sealing of steamed valve will close tightly overthe aperture, and.

may then be sealed or soldered at leisure. In order to facilitate andinsure the soldering or sealing, a groove,'k, may be sunk around themargin of the larger opening, and the disk having recurved edges, theywill occupy the I trough thus formed. This will not only make a moreneat joint, but will receive the solder better than where the disk liesflat on the top, presenting the rough exposed edge of the iron, whichwill not readily take the solder, and this is the cause of leakage ofmany preservecans. Within the recurved edge the disk may be depressed,so as to form a cup or cavity for the reception of aseal,which, coveringover the india-rubber disk,and being protected by the more elevatedsides of the disk, will perma nently and securely close the smalleraperture. This feature is shown at Fig. 3.

g This invention may be advantageouslyapplied to the preservation ofhuman remains, and all other cases where it is desirable to arrestdecomposition.

We claim herein as our invention and desire to secure by Letters PatentThe application to the aperture of a preserving-vessel of a disk, strip,or pellet of gunrelastic or other pliant and air-tight subtents, andafterward that of a stopper, and

this we claim whether applied or not in connection, as described, withcement on the under surface of the disk for the self-sealing thereof.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands before twosubscribing witnesses.

H. o. NICHOLSON. JAMES SPRATT.

Witnesses:

Gno; H. KNIGHT. J. I-I. GETZENDANNER.

